Saxophone



lFeb. 3, 1925. 1,524,773

F. ANSTETT SAXOPHONE Filed Feb. 24, 1923 s sheetssheet 1 Feb. 3. 192,5. f 1,524,773-

g F. ANSTETT 'SAXOPHONE Filed Feb. 24. 1923 3 SheetsA-Sheel. 2.

Pate-ned Fea. 3,51925.

-NITED' STATES" 'PA'IENT OFFICE.

FRANK ANSTE'JYJ, 0F WTLKES-BARBE, PENNSYLVANIA.

SAXOPHONE Application led February 24, 1928. Serial No. 620,917.

Wilkes-Barre, in the county of Luzerne andv State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Saxophones, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to saxophones; and `it consists in certain improvements to the key mechanism for producing the tones o B flat and C natural in the middle register, and for producing the upper tones D, E flat, E and F, as hereinafter fully described and claimed...

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a rear side Vview of a portion of a tenor saxophone, showing the C natural and B fiat keys of the middle register, constructed according to this invention, and looking in the direction of the arrow 13 in Fig. 2. Fig. 2f is a cross-section through the body of the instrument, taken on -the'line 2 2 in Fig. l. Fig. 3 is a side view ofthe parts shown in Fig. 1, looking` in the' direction of the .arrows 14 in Figs. 1 and 2. Fig. 4 is a crosssection through the body, taken on the line 4 4 in Fig. 1. Fig. 5 is a front view. of the upper part of Y the instrument showing thekeys for the high notes. D, E flat, E Aand F. Fig. 6 is aside view of theparts shown in Fig. 5, looking in the direction ,of the arrow 6 in Fig. 5.7 Figs. 7 8 and 9 are crosssections, taken onthe lines 7 7, 8 8, and 9 9, respectively in Fi 5. Fig. 10 is a detail view of the spind e 7 5 and the parts mounted on it. Fig.f11 is a detail view of the spindle 86 and the parts mounted o n it.

Fig. 12 is a rear view of the spindle 46 and the parts mounted on it. Fig. 13 is an end view of the lever 100. p

In the Figs. 1,3, 5 andxmany keys and other parts, belonging to the instrument as ordinarily constructed, have been omitted for clearness, and as they are not parts of the present invention. I'

The saxophone illustrated is a tenor saxophone in B flat of approved construction, provided with a conical body portion 15. The body portion has the usual button' 16 on which the thumb of the leftlhand usually rests` and which is located on the rear side of the body portion, next tothe body of the player. According to the present invention vention.

. plate 17.

' the ball of the thumb does not rest directly on the button 16 but on the thumb plate 17 of an additional key. 18 which projects crosswise of Ithe body and is pivoted on a longitudinal spindle 19. The thumb plate 17 is normally pressed down on the button l1 6 by the thumb, and the usual octave key (not shown) is operated by the tip ofthe thumb in the usual manner.

The B flat. and C natural tones are produced von this instrument by the usual keys (not shown), and `this instrument is provided at its-rear side with the usual auxil-V iary B flat pad 20 and C natural pad 21 for Ause with a different and approved fingering. These two pads 2O and 21 are however operated in a novel manner according to this invention.v The B flat pad' 20 Vis mounted on a. pivoted key 22 provided with a spring 23 for opening it, and having an extension 24 on the other side of its pivot of lthe vleft hand is pressing down the or-` dinary vGr key, of. the instrument, (not shown), the B flat pad 20 is closed by an,

arm 25 (partially shown) whichcomes under the extension 24, and which arm is not a part` of the present invention.

for opening it, and having an extension 28 on the other side of its pivot from the pad 21. Whn the second fin r of the left hand is pressing down the ordinary A key of the instrument '(not shown), the C pad 21 is closed 'by an arm 29 (partially shown) which comes under the extension 28, and which arm is not a part of the present in- According to this inventin the B 'flat pad 20 and the C pad 21 are normally closed bythe thumb key 18. A spindle 30 is mounted in bearings 31 on the body portion -15, and ifs arranged longitudinally thereof,

and parallel to the keys 22 and 26. This spindle is operated by an arm' 32 secured on it, and provided with a lug 33 which from the pad 20. When the third nger'- comes over the end portionof the key 18 on the other side of its Two arms 34 and 35 are secured on the spindle 30 for operating the keys 22 and 26. -The arm 34 has a head. .36 Vprovided with a slot 37, and the key 22 has a standard pivot from the thumb l pivot. A spring 39 is secured at'onevend in the standard V38, and its free end portion .engages withV the slot 37. A guard 40,

channel-shaped in cross-section, is secured to fthe standard 38, and Vextends longitu-Y dinally over the lspring A39, to protect it from injury. The B 'fiat pad is closed by the thumb key 18 by the downward pres-V sure of the upper end of theslot 37 on the free end portion of the spring 39.

The means for closing the ,C pad are similar-to those for closing the B flat pad. The a'rlnV 35 has a head 41 provided with a slot 42, and the key 26 has a standard A spring 44. is secured to the standard 43, and its ee end portion engages with the slot 42. A guard 45'issecured to the stand# ard 43, and protects the spring 44 from injury. Y

- In order to raise the B flat and C natural` pads 20 and 21x with facility in playingcertain passages, andto avoid crossfingeringwith the fingers of theleft hand, keys are provided for raising the B flat and C- natural pads with the right hand, at the larger part off the body portion 15. A spindle 46 is arranged longitudinally of the instrument, and is mounted in bearings 47. A sleeve 48 is mounted to'rock on the spindle 46, and an arm 49 is secured to it with its end projecting crosswise over the end' portion ofthe extension 24 of the B iat ke 22. A linger piece 50 is secured to a s ort sleeve 51 also mounted 0n the Spindle 46, and the sleeve 51 is connected. to the sleeve 48 by a crank bar 52. YVhen the linger piece 50 is depressed vby the first finlger of the right hand the arm 49 trips open the B flat key 22.

An arm 53 is secured on a sleeve 48 mounted to rock on the spindle 46, and its free end portion projects crosswise over the extension 28 of the C natural key 26. A finger piece 54 is secured to a short sleeve 51 also mounted on the spindle 46, and the sleeves148 and 51 are connected by a crank bar 52', as shown in Fig. 12. When thisy finger piece 54 is depressed by the first finger of the right hand the -arm 53 tripsY open the C natural key 26. Y l The finger of the right hand overcomes kthe pressure of the springs 39 and 44 in thus operating the B fiat and -C natural keys.l The slots 37 and 42 in the heads 36 and 41 are provided to permit the free end portions of the springs-39 and 44 'to move downwardly when the thumbis off'v the thumb plate 17, and the B flat key 20 andthe C natural key ,21' are closed by the fingers of the left hald inthe usual manner operating the arms' 25 and 29...,-

The VVshank of the finger piece 54 overlaps the crank bar 52, and when the finger piece 54 is depressed to openzth'e C'naturaloperated'by key mechanism of approved'v construction, and ordinarily used and operated by the first and second fingers ofY the 1euhand. The pads 63 for the Dl tone, 64 for the`/E flattone, 65 for the E natural tone, and 66 vfor the F. tonel are all arranged in their usual positions,` and all have -springs which normally hold them closed, but they are operated by novel key mechanism according to this invention.

TheD pad 63 is mounted on one end of akey 67 havinga pivot- 68 at its other end. A spindle 69 is ljournaled in bearings 70, and is arranged parallel Vto the key y67'.

A finger piece 71 projects laterally in one direction from the spindle 69,and is curved around the body and arranged with its Vfree end a little farthertowards the large end of the body than the B padA 60. A trip The E flat pad 64 is mounted on one endV of a key 73 having a pivot 74 at its otlier end. A spindle-7 5 is pivoted on the pointed end portions vof two screws 7 5 mounted in bearings 76, and is arranged parallel to the. key A finger piece 7 6 projects laterally in one direction from the spindle 75, and is curved around the body and arranged between the B and C pads 60 and 61. j A. trip arm 77 projects laterally from the spindle 75- under the middle part of the key 73, and the E flat pad 64 is raised by depressing the finger piece 76.

The E natural pad 65 lis mounted on one end of a key 78, the'middle part of which is mountedon a pivot 79, A sleeve 80 is mounted on the middle part of the spindle 7 5, and a short sleeve 81 is also mounted on the spindle 75 opposite the other .end of the E natural key 78 fromv the pad. These two sleeves 80 and 81 are rigidlyv connected together by a 'crank bar 82, and thiscrank bar has an extension 82'/ at one end which Y projects under a lug 83 on the finger piece ranged overfthe crank barf .Y The short sleeve'81 has an arm 89 secured toit, and. this arm overlaps the endjportion of the E Vnatural key'78, on the other side-of its pivot fromf its pad 65. When the: finger piece 88 is depressed, the lever 85 depresses the arm 84, and raises the crank bar. 82, which in turn depresses the arml 89, and raises 'the E natural pad 65.v j

The E fiat pad is raised yby 'the finger piece 88 simultaneously .with the E natural pad, bv meansof the extension' 82 on the crank ar 82, which extension raises' the lug 83 on the finger piece 76 of the Eilat key. The raising of'the E flat pad' vents 'the instrument freely at this point, and thereby clarifies the E natural tone.

The high F pad 66 is mountedvon oneend of a key 90, which has la pivot y91 at its other end. The spindle 75. has a sleeve 92 'mounted loosely on it, and this sleeve has 84. This arm 96'has'an extension'97which projects in the opposite direction from its main portion,under the crank bar'82, and which engages with the crankv bar` 82 and raises it when the arm 96 is depressed. A

lever 98 is provided for depressing the arm 96, and one end of this lever issecured on the spindle 86. The lever 98 is arranged parallel to the lever 85, and ithas afinger" piece 99 at its free end which projects from itat a right angle, and which overlaps a portion ofthe finger piece 88 which operates the E natural key. These two finger pieces 99 and 88 are arranged so that a linger can slide easily off thefinge'r piece 99 ontothe finger piece'88, to permit the finger' piece Y operates to'improve the'high F tone.

99 to rise without 88 to rise. v j

When the finger niece 99 is depressed, the lever'98'depresses the arm'96, and/ opr\ permitting the finger piece vates thecrank bar 95 andtrip arm 93 so as toraise the high F pad.l The E natural andE flat pads are raised simultaneously with thefl pad bythe downwardpressure ot the 'finger piece 99 on the finger' piece 88, andalso bythe action of the crank bar 82 which is'raised when the, lever98'de-v presses the arm 96 andraises its extension '97..

-The raising of thejEy natural and E fiat pads simultaneously with the high F pad In ordertooperate the highF key with vtheright-ha'nd, which i's a great'convenience inxrtain passages off-music, the spindle (86 is extended longitudinally tothe larger end portion of theinstrument, and a lever 10() 1s secured on it and provided with a finger plate 101. The lever 100 curves around"the body of the instrument inthe not shown, as they do not t'o-rm a part of 'this l invention. lWhen the linger plate` 101 is depressed it also depresses the finger piece 99, asfboth of them are secured on the same spindle 86, so that the high 'F pad is raised and with it the E natural and E fiat pads as hereinbefore 'described. i

1. In a saxophone, a pivoted tone key provided with an opening spring, a key pivoted cro'sswise of the pivot of the said tone key and having a plate for the thumb of the left hand, and means operatively connect-ing the two keys, said means being provided with a closing spring which operates tox depress the tone key and overcome the pressure of its opening spring when the i thumb key is depressed.

2. In a saxophone, a pivoted tone key provided with an opening spring, a closing spring secured at one end to the said tone key 'and arranged longitudinally ofit, a pivoted key having a platev for the thumb of the left hand, and means operatively connecting the thmb key with the free end portion of the-'said closing spring so that the tone key is closed when the thumb key .is depressed.

3. In a saxophone, a pivoted tone key provided with an opening spring, a closing spring secured at one end to the said tone key, a pivoted key provided with a. plate for'the thumb of the left handv on one side of its pivot, a pivoted spindle arranged parallel to the said tone key, an arm secured on the said spindle and engaging with the thumbfkey on the other side of its pivot from its thumb plate, and a closing. arm secured on the said spindle and engaging with the free end portion of the said closing spring' and operating to close the tone` key when the thumb plate is depressed.

4. In a saxophone, a pivoted tone key provided with means for closing it asset forth in claim 3, the closing arm of the said means being provided with a slot. which engages with the free end portion of the [closing spring, thereby permitting the tone key to be.clsed independently of the thumb key and when the thumb key is not depressed.

' 5. In a saxophone, a pivoted tone key provided with means for closing it vas set :forth in claim 3, said tone key beingprovided with an. upwardly projecting standard, the

lso,-

i closing spring of the saidmeansbeing sespindle arranged longitudinally of the body I cured at one end to the said standard, and. a guard secured to it and projecting long1tudinally over the' the` said standard havin said closing spring. 6. In a saxophone, a ivoted C natural key, anda pivoted B at key, each provided with an opening spring, a key pivoted adjacent to the said C key and having a plate for the thumb of theleft hand, and means which operatively connect'the thumb keyl with the said C and B flat keys, said means being provided with two closing springs which operate to depress the respective C and B flat keys simultaneously when the thumb plate is depressed. 5 7. In a saxophone, a pivoted tone key provided with an opening spring and a pad for closing a tone hole, a closing spring secured at one end to the said key, a pivoted key provided with a plate for'the thumb of the left lhand on one side of its pivot, a pivoted of the instrument, an arm secured to the said spindle and-engaging with the thumb key onthe other side of its p ivot from its thumb plate, and a closing arm secured on 'the said spindle and engaging with the' free key operated by the right hand and provided with anarm which projects crosswise of the tone key and which affords a means for raising it when the thumb key is depressed.

9. In a saxophone, the combination, with the parts set forth in claim 2, of a spindle arranged longitudinally of the instrument, a sleeve mounted loosely on the said spindle, an arm secured on one en d portion of the said sleeve and arranged crosswise of the said tone key and affording a means for raising it when the thumb key is depressed, and a linger piece secured on the other end portion of the` sleeve and adapted to be operated `by the right hand.

10. In a saxophone, the combination, with the parts set forth in claim 6, of two pivoted keys operated by the right hand and provided with arms which project crosswise of the C key-and the B at key and which afford la means for raising each of them when the thumb key is depressed.

11. In a saxophone, the combination with` the parts set forth in claim 6, of a. spindle arranged longitudinally of the instrument, sleeves arranged in pairs and mounted on the said spindle, crank bars connecting the two sleeves of each pair, arms secured to one sleevesof each pair and projecting crosswise of the said C and B at keys and operating v'end and having hole at its other end, a spring normally closa saxophone, the combination with to raise them, and -inger pieces secured to the other-sleeve of each pair and adapted to be operated by the right hand.

12. In a saxophone, a key pivoted atone a4 pad for closing atone ing the Said.keyaspindle pivoted arallel to the said key, a linger piece secure to one end portion ofthe spindle, and a trip arm secured to the other end portion of the spindle and projecting under the middle part of the sald key and operating to 'open the keywhen the said linger piece -is de ressed.

"13. In a saxophone, a key pivote at one l end and having a.A pad for the", high E flat /tone at its other end, a s ringnormally closing the said key, a sin e pivoted parallel to the saidkcy, a linger. piece secured to one, end portion of the spindle and 10- jecting laterally in one direction, an an opening arm secured on the other end por.- tion of the said spindle and projecting laterally under the middle part of the said key in the other direction and operating to open the key when the said finger 'piece is depresse .14. In a` saxophone, a key pivoted at its middle part 'and having a pad for high E tone at one end, a spring normally closing Y the said key, a spindle arranged parallel to the said key, two sleeves mounted V'loosely on the said spindle, 'a crank bar connecting the two sleeves, 'an opening trip arm secured to one sleeve and projecting over the other end portion of the said key, an opening arm secured to the other sleeve and projecting on the same side of the spindle as the said trip arm, and a lever arranged cross *se of the said spindle and pivoted 'at one end and having a linger piece at its free end, thel middle part ot the said lever being arranged to bear on the free end portion of the said opening arm, said lever operating to deress the two said A'arms and open the said ey when the said finger lever 1s depressed.

15. In a saxophone, a high E tone key i provided with opening.. mechanism as set forth in claim 14, the crank bar of the said opening mechanismbeing provided with means for openingthe E flat key simultaneously with the opening of the said high E key.

16. Inv end and having a pad for the highF tone at its other end, a spring normally closing the said key, a spindle arranged p'arallel to' the said key, two sleeves mounted' loosely on a saxophone, a key pivoted at one the said spindle, a crank bai connecting the two sleeves, an opening trip arm secured to one sleeve and projectmgunder the middle part of the said key, an o ening arm se? cured to the other sleeve an projecting on the other side of the spindle from the said trip arm, and an opening lever -arranged crosswise of the lsaid spindle l"and Y 25 pivoted spindle arranged pivoted at one end and having a finger l Asaid lever operatingte depress the two said arms and open the saidkey when the said finger lever is depressed.

17. In a saXophone,'-aY highiF tone Akey 'provided with opening mechanism as set 10 forth in claim 16, the opening 'armof tlie saidmeehanismbeing provided with means arranged on the other side of its pivot from itsmain portion for opening the high E key simultaneously with the-opening of the 15 said high F key.

18. In asaxophone, a" high F tone key provided with opening mechanism as set forth in claim 16, the said mechanism being provided with means for opening the high 20 E and the high E flat keys simultaneously with the opening ofthe said high F key.

19. In a saxophone, pivoted keys for the high E flat, high E and high F tones, springs normally closin the said keys, a longitudinally of the instrument, sleeves arranged in pairs and mounted loosely on the said spindle, crank bars connecting the two sleeves of each pair, trip arms secured to one sleeve of each pair and engaging with the said high E and high F keys, opening arms secured .to the other sleeve of each pair and o erating to open the said high E and high F keys when depressed, -pivoted levers arranged crosswise of 'the said pivoted spindle and provided .with finger pleces and operating to depre the said openin arms when saidfinger pieces are depresse and a trip arm and a finger piece secured directly to the said pivoted spindle and o erating to open the said high E'ifat key iv en the said iinger piece is depressed. Y

20. In a saxophone, the combination with a high F key provided with means for opening it as set forthin claim 16, of a pivotedspindle arranged longitudinally of and extending to the llarger end portion of the instrument and h'avin the opening lever of the said means secure on one endv portion of it, and a finger piece secured on the other end portion of the said spindle and operating to open the high F key when depressed with the right hand.

In testimony whereof I have afiixed my signature.

F ANSTETT. A 

